Italian firm buys WA dairy company

Italy's Parmalat has bought Harvey Fresh, a dairy and fruit juice maker based in WA.

Italian dairy giant Parmalat has bought control of Western Australian milk and fruit juice company Harvey Fresh.

Harvey Fresh, established in the farming town of Harvey, south of Perth, in 1986, is WA's second largest dairy producer.

The company also supplies fruit juice in WA and NSW, with two production facilities employing about 250 people.

Parmalat said the takeover makes it a "fully national player" in the Australian market.

It also owns the Pauls dairy brand, Vaalia yoghurt and several iced coffee products.

Parmalat did not provide financial details of the deal.